A2 Archaeology
Contemporary Issues in
World Archaeology
Task!!!
Who owns archaeological
artefacts?
► Today’s
task is to enable you to consider the
question
‘Who owns archaeological artefacts?’
► This
question is vital to the role of the
archaeologist
Case Study
► The
archaeologist and his team have been hard at
work excavating an ancient site, digging deep into
the sand of Egypt's Valley of the Kings
► As the sun fades on the 120th day, a shout is
heard near the dig's centre
► A hired hand has unearthed the entrance to the
undiscovered tomb of an ancient pharaoh
► The burial room is large and filled with a treasure
trove of artefacts
► After the initial euphoria over this cultural jackpot
fades, a burning question sets in:
 Now what?
Case Study
► Luckily
for the archaeologist, there are a host of
laws that spell out exactly what should happen
next, laws that any legitimate archaeological team
is bound to by an even stricter set of personal
ethics
► The
question of "who owns archaeological
artefacts" isn't one that's easily answered. Each
country and each region within each country has
its own laws regarding the right to cultural
property
Case Study
► Most
of these laws have a set year established
that draws the line between which objects belong
to the state or country, and which are essentially
"finders keepers." For instance, in New Zealand,
all items found after April 1, 1976 are property of
the Crown
► The
Antiquities Act of 1975 states that anything
found must be reported to the Ministry of Culture
and Heritage within 28 days. Then the ministry
decides what to do with it. If the item was found
before 1976, then it belongs to whoever found it
Case Study
►
Sweden has some of the most aggressive and specific laws
pertaining to cultural finds. If more than one object is
found at a single site, it must be reported to the
government
►
The government encourages this by attaching a finder's
reward to the object
►
If someone finds only a single object, they have to report it
only if it's partly made of precious metals or copper alloy
►
If it's an ancient wooden bowl, then it's the finder's to
keep, sell, or do whatever he or she would like to do with it
Case Study
► Here's
where it gets tricky in Sweden:
 The actual land owner has very few rights!
► Since
there are no laws in Sweden that forbid
trespassing on private property, a person may
cross through someone's yard, find an artefact
and lay claim to it
► And
if you find that you have a genuine
archaeological site discovered on your land, you
may as well be a renter from the government
Case Study
► In
the United States, the National Historic
Preservation Act and the Archaeological Resources
Protection Act work hand in hand to both preserve
and claim artefacts found on U.S. Soil
► These
acts spell out what constitutes a historical
site or archaeological resource site. For the latter,
the site must be at least 100 years old, and
remains must be related to past human life or
activity
► The
acts also spell out strict penalties for persons
found executing an excavation without a permit
Case Study
► Legitimate
archaeologists are in favour of these
kinds of laws because they help protect the
integrity of the site
► Professionals
in the field do not keep, sell or trade
artefacts they uncover
► Their
goal is to record history, plain and simple,
and if possible, move the objects as a collection
for research and display
► Anything
found is property of the public, and it's
the responsibility of the finder to care for the item
for the sake of the public
Case Study
► If
you aren't an archaeologist and you happen to
stumble upon an artefact in the United States,
then you must report your finding
► Each
state has an office of historical preservation
or archaeology, as well as a state archaeologist
► They're
great resources and the perfect place to
start if you find something that has cultural
significance
Task
Which laws govern archaeology in Britain?
2. Are they different in England? Ireland? Scotland
and Wales?
3. Are human remains treated differently to
treasure?
4. And finally.....do you agree or disagree to these
regulations?
1.